Carrier for outboard motor



y 1961 J. w. KLAGES 2,983,520

CARRIER FOR OUTBOARD MOTOR Filed Aug. 13, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. JOHN W. KLAGES ATTORNEYS y 9, 1961 I J. w. KLAGES 2,983,520

CARRIER FOR OUTBOARD MOTOR Filed Aug. 13, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR. JOHN W. KLAGES ATTORNEYS Un t d t e P en Y 2,983,520 CARRIER FOR OUTBOARD MOTOR John W. Klages, Columbus, Ohio, assignor to The Columbus Auto Parts Company, Columbus, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Aug. 13, 1958, Ser. No. 754,817

Claims. (Cl. 280'47.19)

This invention relates to a carrier for outboard motors.

In general the apparatus of the present invention consists of a main frame portion which includes a forwardly extending toe portion, a heel portion having attached wheels, a vertically extending portion, and a forwardly extending motor supporting portion. All of the portions of the main frame are formed by bending a single tubular member in a novel manner.

The apparatus of the present invention further includes a novel handle means which is mounted to the previously tion, and a motor supporting portion all of which portions are formed by bending a single tubular member in a novel manner.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a carrier for an outboard motor which includes a novel handle means that can beselectively disposed in either an operational configuration or a storage configuration.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the invention is clearly shown. I

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a carrier for an outboard motor constructed according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; I

Figure 2 is a partial perspective of the preferred embodiment of the present invention which view shows the handle means in an operational configuration; and

Figure 3 is a second perspective view of the carrier of Figure 2 which view shows the handle means in a storage configuration.

Referring in detail to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a carrier constructed in accordance with the present invention. The carrier comprises a main frame 20 which includes a toe portion formed by bending the central portion of the tubular members so as to include lengths 2325. A pair of upright lengths 21 and 22 connect toe portion 15 with the motor supporting'lengths 26' and 27.

2,983,520 Patented May 9, 1961 junction of toe portion 15 and upright members 21 and 22 by means of tubular members 28 .which are welded to the main frame portion.

' With specific reference to Figure 1, each of the upright lengths 21 and 22 carries a tubular member and 71 respectively each of which is welded to an upright length and forms a socket for removably receiving the forward segments 77 and 78 respectively of handle members 75A and 75B. A cotter key 76 preferably is inserted in a hole near the end of each of the segments 77 and 78 although other types of fasteners may be provided to retain handle members 75A and 75B in their respective tubular members 70 and 71 without departing from the spirit of this invention.

A lateral plate member 80 is formed from metallic sheet stock, preferably of rather heavy gauge, and is attached to upright lengths 21 and 22 by fasteners 82 and 83. Member 80 preferably is of shorter length than the distance between upright lengths 21 and 22 at the junction thereof with tubular member 28. It should be understood that this preferred length of member 80 results in the vertical extending portion of the carrier of the instant invention defining a trapezoid whose non-parallel sides are found by upright lengths 21 and 22. Such an arrangement, it has been found, results in a rigid structure of great strength and yet is comparatively light in weight.

Plate member 80 includes a central portion 81-provided with holes, not shown, to receive fastener 82 and 83, a top portion 84, and a bottom portion 85. Top portion 84 extends upwardly and forwardly from central portion 81 at a horizontal bend 86. Similarly, bottom portion 85 extends downwardly and forwardly from central portion 81 at a horizontal bend 89. 7

Top and bottom portions 84 and 85 each have recesses to receive upright lengths 21 and 22. It should be understood that by providing recesses 90 in the top and bottom portions 84 and 85 respectively, central portion 81 can then be urged against the rear side of upright lengths 21 and 22 by fastener 82 and. 83 which pass through respective lengths 22 and 21 and hence central,

Attached to the rear end of each of the forward segments 77 and 78 is a stop 95, which stop is formed froma plate and welded to each of the handle members 75A and 75B forward of respectivebends 96 and 97. Preferably, the shape of stop defines an annular ring with a lug portion extending outwardly from the periphery thereof. Stops 95 are so positioned on segments 77 and 78 to cause stops 9.5 to engage first and secondshoulders and 101 formed by top portion 84 of plate member 80 when handle members 75A and 75B are disposed in operational configuration as shown in Figure 8. When handle, members 75A and 75B are disposed in the storage configuration of Figure 9, it is seen that stops 95 are moved out of contact with stops 100 and 10 1 on top portion 84 and about the axis of tubular members 70 and 71.

Rear segments 98 and 99 of handle members 75A and operation.

It should be pointed out that the carrier of the present invention, with the handles in the operational configuration of Fig. 1, can be rested on the wheels and handles such that the frictional engagement of the handles with the supporting surface restrains movement of the carrier. Such stable disposition of the carrier, the motor thereon, is particularly useful in transporting the carrier and motor on the bed of a station wagon or other motor vehicle.

The handle means 35 is preferably provided with grips 63 formed of rubber or the like which not only facilitate manipulating the carrier but also increase the frictional resistance to movement when the carrier is disposed in the transporting described above.

It will be noted that the forwardly extending portions 26 and 27' are each provided with a resilient covering 45. It will be understood that since the portions 26 and 27 underlie the casing portion 66 of an outboard motor 65, Figure 1, resilient covering 45 provides increased frictional engagement for retaining the casing portion 66 of the motor 65 in place on supporting portions 26 and 27. Moreover, resilient coverings 45 prevent portions 26 and :75 from marring the finish of casing portion 66 of motor In operation, when a carrier is in the storage configuration of Figure 3 wherein its handle is extending downwardly along upright lengths 21 and 22 it will be noted that the carrier is comparatively compact which facilitates transporting same in a compartment of limited size.

In operation, the handles are grasped by the operator from the normally downwardly extending configuration of Figure 3 and swung upwardly to a position as shown in Figures 1 and 2 whereupon stops 95 engage first and second shoulders 100 and 101 formed by plate member 80. When it is desired to push a carrier along a supporting surface the carrier, with or without a motor mounted thereon, is tilted rearwardly to a position wherein toe portion 15 is raised above the supporting surfaceland the center of gravity of the carrier, and the motor when so canied is disposed above the axis of rotation of the wheels. The carrier can then be moved as desired in a balanced configuration and, when so desired, can be placed either in the position as illustrated in Figure 1 or in a horizontal position wherein handles 63 rest on the supporting surface. Upon returning the carrier from the previously described balanced configuration to the position illustrated in Figure 1, the operator subsequently releases his grasp on handle members 75A and 75B whereupon such members will then return by the action of gravity to the storage configuration of Figure 3.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms, might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. A carrier for an outboard motor of the type that includes a motor housing and a drive shaft housing, said carrier comprising, in combination, a frame including a forwardly extending base frame portion and a pair of spaced vertically extending side portions, an upper portion for supporting an outboard motor, and first and second shoulders; wheels mounted on said base frame portion of said carrier to facilitate displacement thereof; first and second tubular members mounted on said side portions adjacent the upper end portion thereof and including open ends adjacent said shoulders, said members being disposed longitudinally of said frame; a first handle means including a front handle portion rotatably carried in said first tubular member and a rear handle portion forming an angle with said front handle portion whereby said rear handle portion extends rearwardly relative to said frame means when said first handle means is in an operational configuration; a second handle means including a front handle portion rotatably carried in said second tubular member and a rear handle portion forming an angle with said front handle portion whereby said rear handle portion extends rearwardly relative to said frame means when said second handle means in an operational configuration; a first protrusion on said front portion of said first handle means and engageable with said first shoulder when said first handle means is in said operational configuration, said first protrusion and first shoulder serving to limit rotation, in one direction, of said first handle means relative to said first tubular member; and a second protrusion on said front portion of said second handle means and engageable with said second shoulder when said second handle means is in said operational configuration, said sec ond protrusion and second shoulder serving to limit rotation, in one direction, of said second handle means relative to said second tubular member, rotation of said first and second handle means being unlimited in the. other directions whereby said handle means, can be rotated into storage configurations wherein said rear handle portions extend downwardly adjacent said frame means.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said frame includes spaced forwardly. extending members for distend downwardly adjacent said frame means.

3. A carrier for an outboard motor comprising, in

combination, frame means including a toe portion, spaced upright portions, and an upper portion for supporting an outboard motor; a first socket means mounted to one of said upright frame portions, a second socket means mounted to the other of said upright frame portions, said socket means being extended longitudinally of said frame means; a first handle means including a front handle portion rotatably carried in said first socket means and a rear handle portion forming an obtuse angle with said front handle portion whereby said rear handle portion extends rearwardly relative to said frame means when said first handle means is in an operational configuration; a second handle means including a front handle portion rotatably'canicd in said second socket means and a rear handle portion forming an obtuse angle with said front handle portion whereby said rear handle 'portion extends rearwardly relative to said frame means when said second handle means is in an operational configuration; a lateral frame. member connected between said spaced upright members and forming a first shoulder and a second shoulder; a first protrusion on said front portion of said first handle means and engageable with said first shoulder when said first handle means is in saidoperational configuration, said first protrusion and first shoulder serving to limit rotation, in one direction, of said first handle means relative to said first socket means; a second protrusion on said front portion of said first handle means and engageable with said second shoulder when said second handle means is in said operational configuration, said second protrusion and second shoulder servingto limit rotation, in one direction,'of said second handle means relative to said second socket means, rotation of said first and second handle means being unlimited in the other directions whereby said handle means can be rotated into storage configurations wherein said rear handl'e portions extend downwardly adjacent said frame means.

4i The apparatus defined in claim 3 wherein said spaced upright frame portions include forwardly extending upper ends for disposition beneath the housing of an outboard motor.

5. A wheeled carrier comprising, in combination, a frame including a vertically disposed frame portion, an upper load supporting portion, first and second spaced longitudinally extendingsocket means, and first and second shoulders adjacent said socket means; a first handle means including a front handle portion rotatably carried in said socket means and a rear handle portion forming an angle with said. front handle portion wherebylsaid rear handle portion extends rearwardly relative to said frame means when said first handle means is in an operational configuration; a second handle means including a front handle portion rotatably carried in said second socket means and a rear handle'portion forming an angle with said front handle portion whereby said rear handle portion extends rearwardly relative to said frame means when said second handle means is in an operational configuration; a first protrusion on said front portion of said first handle means and engageable with said first shoulder when said first handle means is in said operational configuration, said first protrusion and first shoulder serving to limit rotation, in one direction, ofsaid first handle means relative to said first socket means; a second protrusion on said front portion of said second handle means and engageable with said second shoulder when said second handle means is in said operational configuration, said second protrusion and second shoulder serving to limit rotation, in one direction, of said second handle means relative to said second socket means, rotation of said first and second handle means,

being unlimited in the other directions whereby said 6 handle means can be rotated into storage configurations wherein said rear handle portions extend downwardly adjacent said frame means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 173,596 Tunstead Nov. 30, 1954 D. 185,755 Klages July 28, 1959 1,009,691 Raughtigan Nov. 21, 1911 1,790,711 Johnston Feb. 3, 1931 2,658,703 Brink NOV. 10, 1953 2,739,007 Rauterberg Mar. 20, 1956 2,784,005 Abgarian Mar. 5, 1957' 2,843,393 Dahlander July 15, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 161,033 Sweden Oct. 22, 1957 

